Il-lingwa tas-sinjali u r-rikonoxximent tagħha : analiżi fuq il-funzjoni, l-adozzjoni, u l-effettività tagħha

Abstract

Il-lingwi tas-sinjali jiffurmaw parti essenzjali mill-komunikazzjoni umana u jirrappreżentaw sistemi lingwistiċi kompluti li jiżviluppaw b’mod naturali fi ħdan komunitajiet b’nuqqas ta’ smigħ madwar id-dinja. Minkejja li ħafna drabi ġew trattati storikament bħala forom ta’ komunikazzjoni sekondarji jew mhux ekwivalenti għal-lingwi mitkellma, ix-xjenza lingwistika kontemporanja, flimkien mar-riformi tad-drittijiet tal-persuni b’diżabbiltà, issa tirrikonoxxi li l-lingwi tassinjali għandhom struttura, grammatika, lessiku u varjazzjoni interna tagħhom, u li mhumiex sempliċement it-traspożizzjoni f’sinjali ta’ xi lingwa mitkellma. Fil-kuntest Malti, il-Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija (LSM) għandha importanza partikolari, peress li tiffunzjona, mhux biss bħala mezz ta’ komunikazzjoni, iżda wkoll bħala pilastru kulturali u identitarju għall-komunità tal-LSM. [silta]

Maltese Sign Language (Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija - LSM) is the natural language of the Deaf community in Malta and forms an essential part of the country’s linguistic and cultural heritage. Developed organically within the Deaf community, LSM has its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, distinct from spoken Maltese and English, and is not simply a signed version of either language. It reflects Malta’s unique social and historical context while also showing features common to other sign languages. In recent years, Maltese Sign Language has gained increased recognition and institutional support, including legal recognition and academic research, which have strengthened its status and visibility. The promotion of LSM in education, public services, and media plays a crucial role in ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and equal participation for Deaf individuals in Maltese society. [excerpt]